Kane woke before dawn to the quiet rush of the river The fog drifted around the banks in soft sheets making the world feel distant and muted His horse shifted gently and the wagon creaked as if stretching awake Kane brushed dust from his clothes and began preparing for another day in the Crossing

The market was still half asleep when he arrived Only a few vendors arranged their wares The air smelled of wet wood and smoke from last night’s abandoned fires Kane set up his stall with steady hands He stacked the remaining sacks of berries placed the cloth rolls neatly and prepared his herbs for display

As the sun began rising warm light covered the rooftops and the town stirred to life Merchants shouted for attention Carts rumbled through the dirt path Children raced between stalls chasing each other with sticks Kane welcomed the energy with a quiet smile

Serra appeared again carrying her ledger She gave Kane a firm nod You sold well yesterday Good Now tell me how much stock you have left

Kane checked his wagon Two sacks of berries four rolls of cloth small herbs and a coil of rope

Serra wrote numbers quickly then said If you want to earn more you must join a trade run The caravans heading north today need someone who can supply berries for mountain travelers You could ride with them They leave before noon

Kane hesitated He wanted to join a caravan but his wagon was small his experience limited and the Guild watcher from yesterday still lingered in his thoughts Serra sensed his worry

You are unsure she said You believe you are not ready Many merchants feel this the first time But trade is risk If you wait too long the path moves without you

Kane took a slow breath If I join the caravan are there rules

Serra nodded simple ones Keep pace Share road news Help if someone breaks a wheel or loses a horse The north road is rough but safer with numbers Also the caravan master will expect every wagon to contribute to the evening camp

Kane processed her words then gave a slow nod I will join
Serra smiled faintly Good I will speak to the caravan master Finish your selling and be ready by midday

She left with purposeful steps Kane returned to his stall with new determination He sold his remaining berries quickly A group of hunters bought two cloth rolls A traveler bought herbs for long cold nights By late morning his stock was nearly empty

Kane packed the wagon and guided it toward the north gate where the caravans gathered Dozens of wagons lined the road forming a long moving chain Horses stamped impatiently and handlers shouted to one another A tall man with a broad chest and thick hands oversaw the preparations He had a voice that could easily cut through the noise

Serra pointed Kane toward him The man turned and studied the young merchant with careful eyes This your first time joining a caravan

Yes Kane answered

The man introduced himself I am Brann master of this caravan You will follow rules you will keep pace and you will not leave without telling me Understood

Understood

Brann examined Kane’s wagon It’s small but steady Stay near the center of the line You will be safer there Bandits like to strike the front or back

Kane nodded grateful for the guidance

The caravan began moving slowly Wheels creaked horses snorted dust lifted from the road Kane felt both excitement and pressure He was no longer alone He was part of something bigger

Hours passed as the road climbed gradually The landscape changed Trees grew dense and shadows stretched long across the ground The travelers exchanged stories A miner told tales about veins of gold in northern cliffs A cloth merchant spoke of a town where the wind never stopped blowing Kane listened carefully storing every detail

Near midday the caravan stopped at a clearing to rest Kane helped distribute water and fed his horse A few traders approached him asking about his goods He sold the last herbs and cloth strips earning a small but steady income

But the real opportunity appeared when a breathless young rider galloped toward the caravan He wore the colors of a distant village Smoke rises from Pine Hollow he shouted A fire broke out in the lower fields They need supplies

Brann cursed under his breath Pine Hollow sits on our route He looked at the wagons then at Kane You Have rope

Kane nodded and pulled three coils from the wagon

Brann smiled slightly Good Rope is needed during fires You bring them You come with me now

Kane followed Brann to the front of the caravan The group moved faster Horses pushed hard The road twisted and the smell of smoke reached them soon The sky ahead showed a dirty orange haze

When they arrived at Pine Hollow the village was in chaos People rushed with buckets forming a chain from the well to the burning field The flames had spread across dry grass threatening to reach the barns

Brann shouted instructions Several caravans unloaded water barrels and tools Kane jumped from his seat handed rope to a group of farmers and helped tie support beams to keep a barn wall from collapsing Smoke burned his eyes but he kept working

Together with villagers they used his rope to drag smoldering hay away from the flames His hands stung from heat and friction but he did not stop A farmer shouted for another rope and Kane gave him the last coil without hesitation

After nearly an hour the fire was contained A wave of tired relief spread across the village People slumped against walls catching their breath Kane wiped ash from his face and leaned against his wagon feeling exhaustion but also something stronger A sense of purpose

Brann approached him placing a heavy hand on his shoulder You worked hard young merchant Many traders would hide in their wagons during a fire You did not

Kane nodded breathlessly I only did what I could

Brann gave a small approving grunt People here will remember this When you trade again in Pine Hollow they will trust you And trust is more valuable than silver sometimes

Kane felt a quiet satisfaction Trust That was something no Guild no watcher no rival could take from him

As evening fell the caravan camped near the village People shared food stories and thanks Kane sat near the fire listening to the crackle of burning wood and the soft hum of travelers speaking He watched sparks rise into the dark sky and thought about the road ahead

Today had been a different kind of trade Not buying not selling but earning trust earning presence earning a place in the memory of a village

Maybe that was how real merchants grew Not only through coins but through people who remembered them

Kane closed his eyes for a moment letting the warmth sink into his skin Tomorrow he would travel farther Tomorrow he would see new towns Tomorrow the road would reveal another opportunity

He was ready for whatever came next